General Assembly/2C: Remarks by Minister Plenipotentiary Silberberg on poverty eradication

At the outset, I would like to thank the Secretary General for his report on the “Implementation of the Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017)”.

Our shared determination to fight poverty cuts across economic and social policies and constitutes a crucial link between human rights and development. Since the Millennium Declaration this has been the basic principle. And since the adoption of the Millennium Declaration in 2000, significant and substantial progress has been made in reducing poverty. The world reached the USD poverty reduction target five years ahead of schedule.

The report of the Secretary General also highlights that determining the causes of poverty requires the examination of inequalities, including gender inequality. Overcoming these inequalities is still one of the key challenges which jeopardize progress towards poverty eradication and social stability.

Overcoming malnutrition, hunger and environmental challenges, improving social security systems, creating decent job opportunities, empowering women and supporting sustainable production and consumption models are also highlighted in the report and will remain central challenges for the years to come.

Madam President,

Germany promotes the development and expansion of social protection systems that prevent the impoverishment of population groups while incorporating insurance solutions and appropriate contributions from beneficiaries.

Germany also promotes green and inclusive development and growth. Green and inclusive development and growth will allow people living in poverty, in particular women, to contribute to and benefit from growth through income and employment opportunities, especially in rural areas.

The German cross-sectoral strategy on poverty reduction highlights multidimensional poverty reduction as a key issue for German development cooperation, extending beyond the reduction of income poverty and aimed at addressing both a lack of opportunities and a gap in capacities.

We see a need to complement the conventional “dollar-a-day” poverty line with a new and more nuanced approach to poverty measurement. Such an approach should be multidimensional, adequately capture differing standards of living and be accessible to intuitive interpretation.

Madam President,

Our overarching goal must be the sustainable eradication of poverty in all its dimensions, including the eradication of extreme poverty in one generation. This has to be achieved while at the same time respecting the planetary boundaries.

Progress towards the eradication of poverty and sustainable development will not be achievable and meaningless if we do not at the same time address issues of peace and security, promote good governance and the rule of law and ensure the respect of human rights for all.

Development, Environment and Sustainability

More than one billion people in the world – almost one in five – have to live on less than 1.25 US dollars per day. Every day thousands of young children die of hunger and illnesses. Poverty reduction is therefore a cornerstone of Germany's engagement at the UN.